Load binder



May g, 193%. LHAUBERT 2,157,451

. LOAD BINDER Filed April 9, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 36 4242 T39 Summon:

-,Zw f/a 1466/1" Q. Gttorneg Patented May 9, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 14 Claim.

This invention relates to load binders, and among other objects, aims to provide a load binder which is extremely powerful; which has more take-up than other load binders; which is so constructed that the resistance to tightening is more or less equalized, there being no point where the pull required is exceptionally severe: which is self-locking, and in addition may be securely locked in load binding position; and which is simple in construction, easily manufactured, and very rugged so as to stand abuse. Another object is to provide a practicable load binder which will bind at the corner of a load. The invention has other objects which will become apparent from the following description of two embodiments of the invention, both of which are shown in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification.

In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation showing one form of load binder and chain applied to a load of objects on a skid or truck body, the latter being shown diagrammatically;

Fig. 2 is an elevation on an enlarged scale of the load binder of Fig. 1, per se, the parts being shown as the lever starts to tighten the chain;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation on a still'larger scale, showing the parts of the load binder in self-locking position;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view showing the teeth on the drum and one of the rockers;

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the load binder in the position of Fig. 3 and on the same scale, but omitting most of the sprocket chain and showing some parts in section;

Fig. 6 is an elevation, with parts broken away, of another embodiment, the scale being that of Fig. 2 and the parts being in the same relative position;

Fig. '7 is an elevation of the load binder of Fig. 6, and on the same scale, but shown in locked position;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary top plan view of the load binder of Fig. 6, but on a larger scale.

Referring particularly to the drawings, and first to Figs. 1-5, inclusive, there is shown a load binder comprising a lever lo, a chain H and a clevis I 2 both attached to the lever, swivel eyes l3, l4 secured respectively to the chain H and clevis I2, and hooks l5, l6 secured respectively to the swivel eyes I3, I 4 so that the load binder may be quickly attached to or detached from the ends of a chain l1 passing around or partly around a load L on a truck or other body T. The lever It has its inner or fulcrum end termiforated ears l9 to which one end of chain II is 5 secured, as by a pin 20. The chain II is preferably a flat link chain of a known type, with link pivot pins Ila projecting from the sides of links lib: said links being in pairs alternately in contactand spaced apart, as best shown in Fig. 5. 1o

Said chain is preferably received within a groove 2| provided on the periphery of the drum, the depth of said groove being such that while a portion of the chain is received therein, the pins Ila do not quite touch the two rims on either 15 side of the groove, and the width of the groove is only slightly more than that of the chain, see Fig. 5. As shown, the bottom of the groove is preferably of uneven contour circumferentially, having a series of rounded ridges 22 alternating with rounded depressions 23 complementary to the lower curved edges of links lib-of the flat link chain. Thus there is edge contact of the fiat link chain with the drum and a nice fit of these parts throughout the entire length of said chain within the groove; the area of, contact between said chain and the drum, hence the strength of the connection between said chain and drum, are increased as the stress on said chain becomes greater; therefore, the greater the load on said chain, the less the shearing stress on pin 24. This will become apparent after studying Figs. 2 and 3, which show the load binder respectively before and after tightening chain I? about the load.

The clevis 12 has arms which straddle lever l0, as will be understood from Figs. 2 and 5, and which have a pivotal connection with the drum "I through alined trunnions 24. Preferably trunnions 2| are located not more than 90 from the point where the lever merges into or is attached to the drum, said angular spacing being with reference to the central axis of the drum; in other words, the lever and clevis are attached to the drum relatively close together. Said trun- 45 nions are preferably on a pair on spaced rockers 25 which are extensions of the drum, said rockers extending laterally from the drum as shown in Fig. 5 and also radially, as seen in Figs. 2 and 4. The pivot axis of the clevis connection is further from the axis of the drum than the center line of the sprocket chain, as best shown in Fig. 3; hence when the lever is swung as far as it will go, the pivot axis of the clevis is below the line of pull of the resistance (the center line of the chain ll). In this position of the parts, any pull by the load-holding chain I1 only tightens the load binder, as such a pull merely causes the lever to tend to swing down or in toward the load. In short, the described load binder is selflocking, once the lever is thrown past the deadcenter position. (The dead-center position, not illustrated, will be understood as the position wherein the axis of trunnions 24 coincides with the center line of the fiat link chain.) The slightly bent form of lever Iii shown in Fig. l is advantageous as it permits the lever to appreach the chain ll somewhat more closely than would otherwise be possible thus increasing the locking action; also it facilitates grasping of the lever when the load binder is to release the load.

Referring to Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the drum may be further provided with two or more teeth 26, like sprocket teeth, on each side, said teeth 26 preferably being on the inside of and integral with the rockers 25 and the teeth of each pair being spaced apart just far enough to permit one of the pivot pins Ila of the flat link chainto pass down therebetween. Thus there is a direct thrust from the drum through teeth 26 to the flat link chain whenever the lever has pulled the flat link chain around the drum so far as to engage the chain pins Ma with said teeth. Teeth 2b are also useful in reinforcing the rockers 25 and may greatly strengthen the attachment of the trunnions 2t to the rockers, if the trunnions are not integral therewith. Because the moment arm of the clevis is longer than that of the flat link chain, once the parts are past deadcenter, the moment arm of the clevis actually assists in swinging the lever, and hence the pull required for the lever is least when the resistance or load is largest.

When the load binder starts to tighten chain ill, the resistance of the latter holds the flat link chain and the hooks l5, it more or less fiat against one or two sides of the load L, and the drum it will, in effect, roll over the outside of the fiat link chain as the lever is swung toward locked position. A length of flat link chain greater than half the circumference of the drum will be taken up, as the lever is swung, and the same amount of the load-binding chain it will be taken up. The total possible take-up maybe 9 in. with a load binder whose over-all length folded is less than 2 ft. and less than 3 ft. extended. However the take-up may be increased (at the expense of mechanical advantage) by increasing the size of the drum; or if greater power is the desideratum, the lever may be lengthened or the drum may be made smaller, or both changes may be made. If the load binder is on one side of the load (not at a corner as illustrated in Fig. 1), as the load binder reaches its locked position the rockers 25 may directly engage the load and lift the load binder clear of the load, and this will further tighten the binding chain ii. To lock the load binder so securely that accidental unfastening of the load is impossible, a pin 27 (Fig. 3) may be passed through an aperture 28 in the drum 18, said pin engaging the clevis if the lever is swung toward load-releasing position, and thus stopping such swinging. However, the described load binder is completely locked when in the position of Fig. 3, and in many cases the additional locking means just described will not be necessary.

Now referring to Figs. 6, 7 and 8, the embodiment there shown comprises a lever 30, a cable 3| (preferably a steel cable), a tongue 32, a swivel eye 33 and a hook 34 connected to the tongue 32 by the swivel eye and adapted to be attached to a load-binding chain (not shown, but similar to chain l1). Cable 3| is in two parts and passes around a pulley 35 on a block 33 to which another hook 37 may be directly secured, or a swivel eye (not shown) may be used to connect hook 31. The inner end of lever 30 is shown integral with a pair of like drums 38, said drums having alined axes and being spaced apart only far enough to permit tongue 32 to pass between them as the lever is swung from the position of Fig. 6 to that of Fig. 7, and vice versa. Drums (it! may be considered as a single drum having two parts united by lever 39 yet spaced apart to receive tongue 32.

To connect tongue 32 with the drums 38, a pivot pin 39 is used, and said pin is passed through two drum extensions or rockers it which are respectively on the insides of the drums, said rockers merging into the inner end of the lever as shown in Fig. 6. The lever is bifurcated or cut away at said inner end to provide a wall ll which the tongue 32 abuts along a longitudinal edge when the load binder is in releasing position. To connect the cable 39 with the drums, the cable ends are looped over as indicated at Ma, and said looped ends are each secured by a pin '52, each pin d2 being passed through a pair of perforated ears projecting from the periphery of either of the drums. Each drum has a grooved periphery, each groove i l being only wide enough for one part of cable 3 i. As the lever 38 is swung, the two drums wind up the cable, thus tightening the chain or other member to which hooks 3d, are attached. As the drums wind up the cable, tongue passes between the drums, and finally lies on the other side of the drums, as shown in Fig. 7. In this position, the load binder is self-locked, the pull of the load on tongue 32 tending to swing the lever down, or further toward locking position. This is because the line of pull of tongue 32 is outside the line of cable 3B, or in other words, the moment arm of tongue is longer than the moment arm of the cable. lhe lever may be additionally locked against accidental release by a pin attached by a chain 26 to one of the drums, and adapted to enter alined holes 4'! in the two drums, so as to engage tongue 32 if the lever swings toward releasing position. The pulley 35 serves as an equalizer, keeping the cable lengths alined with the grooves of the drums regardless of the stretch of the cable on either side. If desired, the cable may be in three or more parts and the drum may be divided accordingly, or a cable may replace tongue 32. These variations are not shown, but will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Comparing the form of Figs. 6, '7 and 8 with that of Figs. 1-5, it is evident that the two load binders are fundamentally identical. The tongue 32 is functionally the equivalent of the clevis l2, and cable 3! is functionally the equivalent of flat link chain H. The two embodiments are about equally strong and serviceable. Both may be used at the corners of rectangular or triangular loads, which is sometimes a big advantage. Both have a large take-up, because of the wide arc through which the lever may swing and because the use of a drum or drums oscillated by the lever for winding up a flexible member. The employment of a. clevis or U-shaped link through which the lever end may swing, in one form, or the double drum and tongue construction in the other form makes possible not only a wide arc of swing of the lever, but also the secure binding of loads even at acute angular corners. In both forms, the hollow center of the drum or drums saves considerable weight without detracting removable means is provided on the drum to from the strength of the drums.

Obviously the present invention is not restricted to the particular embodiments herein shown and described. Moreover, it is not indispensable that all the features of the invention be used conjointiy, since they may be employed advantageously in various combinations and sub-combinations.

Having described two embodiments of the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A load binder comprising, in combination, a lever, and a drum secured to one end of the lever; a flexible member secured at one end to the drum and. adapted to be wound about the major portion or" the periphery of the drum as the drum is rocked by said lever; a link pivotally secured at one end to the drum near its periphery; separate means to attach the free end of the link and the free end of the flexible member to a loadbinding element; the pivotal connection of said link being so located relative to the point of attachment of the lever and drum and the point of attachment of the flexible member and drum, when the lever is swung under resistance from the load-binding element to wrap the flexible member about the drum to thefullest extent permitted, the line of pull of said link is beyond the dead-center position of the parts, and the stress on said link tends to rock the lever farther in the direction which wraps the flexible member about the drum.

2..A load binder comprising, in combination, a lever fixed to a drum; a flexible member connected to and adapted to be wound upon said drum; a rigid member pivotally connected at one end to the drum; said pivotal connection being near the periphery of the drum and being close to the point where the lever and drum are attached; and means adapted to connect the other end of the rigid member and the free end of the flexible member with a load-binding element.

3. The invention according to claim 2, wherein the pivotal connection for the rigid member has a longer moment arm than the flexible member and is located on the other side of the drum from the connection for the flexible member.

4. The invention according to claim 2, wherein thedrum is divided into two like parts spaced apart but having a common axis and being united by the lever, and the rigid member is pivotally connected between the two drum parts so as to pass laterally there-between, the inner end of the lever being secured to both drum parts and being bifurcated for a short distance adjacent said drum parts to receive the rigid member.

5. The invention according to claim 2, wherein the flexible member is a chain, the drum being so shaped on its periphery as to fit the inner surfaces of the links of the chain, thereby to grip said links as the chain is wound on the drum.

6. The invention according to claim 2, wherein the flexible member is a flat link chain and the drum has a plurality of teeth engaging the chain pivot pins.

7. The invention according to claim 2, wherein engage the rigid member, in the event of movement of the lever toward load-releasing position, to stop such movement and thereby to lock the load binder in binding position.

8. A load binder comprising, in combination, a lever; a drum secured to one end of the lever; said drum having lateral and radial extensions providing rockers; a rigid member pivotally connected at one end to said rockers; a flexible member connected to and adapted to be wound upon said drum; and means secured to the free end of the flexible member and also to the free end of said rigid member to connect the load binder with a load-binding element.

9. The invention according to claim 8, wherein the pivotal connection of the rigid member is located at a greater radial distance from the center of the drum than the line of pull of the flexible member.

10. The invention according to claim 8, wherein the rigid member and drum are so constructed, connected and arranged that the lever may closely approach the angular position of the rigid member when the lever is in load-releasing position.

11. A load binder comprising, in combination, a drum having circular and eccentric portions; a flexible member adapted to be wound upon the circular portion of the drum; means to secure the free end of the'flexible member to one end of a load-binding element; and means secured to the eccentric portion of the drum and adapted to be connected with the other end of the loadbinding element.

12. A load binder according toclaim 11, wherein the flexible member is secured at one end to the drum, and a lever is secured at one end to the drum, at a point between the point of attachment of the flexible member to the drum and the point of attachment of the aforesaid means secured to the eccentric portion.

13. A load binder according to claim 11, wherein the means secured to the eccentric portion is a pivotally connected link, and a lever is secured at one end to the drum; the link, drum and lever being so constructed and arranged that when the lever reaches the load-binding position, the eccentric portion of the drum will be on the inside, and the load binder will be thrust away from the load to an extent equal to the eccentricity of the eccentric portion.

14. A load binder according to claim 11, wherein the means secured to the eccentric portion of the drum' is pivotally connected thereto, and the pivot axis is outside of the line of pull or resistance of the flexible member when wrapped around the drum-as far as it will go, so that the stress on the load-binding element acts to tend to wrap the flexible member farther around the drum, whereby the load binder is self-locking.

LEO HAUBERT. 

